Posts Tagged ‘Triathlons’

I am trying to raise funds for the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), a non-profit that:

“Serves and empowers Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures.

NAJA recognizes Native Americans as distinct peoples based on tradition and culture. In this spirit, NAJA educates and unifies its membership through journalism programs that promote diversity and defends challenges to free press, speech and expression. NAJA is committed to increase the representation of Native journalists in mainstream media. NAJA encourages both mainstream and tribal media to attain the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and responsibility.”

NAJA has recently had reductions in financial help, so each of our board members look to find ways to give back to the organization through personal donations.

Last year, I held a food sale, an Indian taco with drink, to raise money. Considering I just helped launch a website geared toward getting Native people to live healthy lifestyles (wellboundstorytellers.com), I figured, I probably should do something else. On July 15th, I will be competing in my first triathlon, the Midwest Mayhem triathlon in Lawrence, Kansas. I was inspired by my children who recently competed in the Ironkids triathlon, to try this new event.

I am very excited and hope this will encourage others as well to try new things. I like for people to follow my progress as I train and ultimately finish this event as a way to raise funds for NAJA.

So I am asking any person or media organization to donate any amount they can give, all funds will be used by NAJA for its general operations funds.

If you can help donate for this worthy cause of making sure NAJA continues to its mission of empowering Native Journalists, please do so. All donations will be recognized on my blog at wellboundstorytellers.com and with any donation over $50, if you send me a logo to use, I will put it on my shirt or shorts while I am competing. I know other athletes who are sponsored by energy foods, drinks, companies but I like to show off your organization while I am competing. I hope that I will get enough support from our communities to help me finish this triathlon (which I plan on finishing!); it truly will be an honor to represent you all as well.

Thanks,

Rhonda LeValdo

President, Native American Journalists Association

Donations can be sent to myself: 1600 Haskell #177 Lawrence, Kansas 66044